"It's not true..." Andrew shook his head, backing himself in the corner of the elevator. "It's impossible!"

Warren rolled his eyes and pressed the emergency stop button on the elevator. "Appreciate the need to quote Empire, but can the hysterics, okay?" He strode to Andrew and gave him a pat on the cheek. "Come on, buddy... It's me. Warren."

Andrew gulped as he felt the hand against his face. "So you're not the First Evil this time."

"You saw me punch that guy you're hanging around with," Warren pointed out. "Gallant little queer, isn't he? Nope. All corporeal."

Andrew blinked, looking closer at Warren. "...Willow? Is that you?"

Warren slapped Andrew in the back of the head. "Don't be such an idiot. It's me. It's really, really me."

"You have no skin!" Andrew insisted, pointing a finger at Warren. "Willow put a bullet through your heart and took your skin off! I heard all about it. You can't be standing here all... Not shot and skinful."

"But I am," Warren insisted. "Come on, Andrew... Smart as I am, you think I didn't have a backup plan?"

Andrew brought up a trembling hand and pressed his fingers against Warren's cheek. "You're a robot!" He cried in shock.

Warren nodded. "Yep. I wasn't stupid. Had a couple of them stockpiled. In case I wanted to go all Multiple Man. Willow destroyed one of them, but I still had this one."

"You still..." Andrew shook his head. "But how can you be Warren if you're... Warren-bot?"

Tucker held up a hand, stepping forward. "That's where I came in. You know, you three attracted some attention with your Sunnydale Mayhem. After you dosed the Slayer with that hallucination-juice, Warren got contacted by Wolfram and Hart."

"Made a deal with me," Warren hissed. "Contract and everything. And when I got flailed alive, they got one of their contractors to bring me back."

"Took me a year," Tucker explained. "Figuring out a way to tie Warren's soul to the robo-form. But I managed just fine."

"Check it out." Warren raised his shirt and grabbed the skin on his torso. He pulled it back, revealing robotics underneath, a beating human heart nestled amongst the wires. "I'm all Million-Dollar Man."

"I'm going to be sick," Andrew groaned.

"So am I." Warren shook his head. "All of the things we did together and you throw it in with the Slayer?" He snorted. "Come on, I thought I taught you better than that."

"I never wanted to hurt people," Andrew insisted. "I didn't... I just didn't." He shook his head. "I didn't know what I was doing. Now I know. And it was all wrong."

"But it was fun, wasn't it?" Warren cocked his head. "Come on Andrew... You and me and Jonathan, working together? Tell me you've had more fun hanging out with Mister Goodie-Two-Stakes."

"Connor actually respects me," Andrew whispered. "Doesn't force me to do evil things."

"Relax, Andrew," Tucker held up a hand. "We're not asking you to do anything to hurt Connor."

"You're not asking me to do anything!" Andrew shouted. "Because I won't do it!"

"You know Wolfram and Hart LA is back up and running again," Warren explained. "Good guys may have won the battle, but the war's going to go on long after they're all dead. Evil always come back."

"And there will always be people around to fight it," Andrew whispered. "So you two are working with Wolfram and Hart now?"

"Naturally." Tucker nodded. "No place else for a young go-getter to cut a big paycheck. Warren's heading up R&D while I'm head of Demon Resources." He grinned.

"So why pull this petty job?" Andrew asked. He stamped his foot. "And it's a Comic Book Convention! Come on! That's like burning down our church!" He snarled angrily. "Because of you, I didn't get to meet Jamie Bamber!"

"Thought it would be fun," Warren shrugged. "And that it would get your attention." He took a step towards Andrew. "You know I like to work in threes. With Jonathan buried in the old Hellmouth, I'm one short." He put his hands on Andrew's shoulders. "Andy... Think about it. You'll be head of the Prophecy Department. Like the Watchers, you'll just be getting paid millions more."

"The last guy that had that job got his girlfriend killed and replaced with a Demon God, stabbed in the gut and possessed by a demon," Andrew whispered darkly. "Not really a great position to be in."

"Just don't try to take the company down and you'll be fine," Tucker assured him.

"Start the elevator," Andrew demanded. "We're done here. Just leave me alone."

Warren shrugged. "Suit yourself." He opened the control panel and played with some wires and the elevator began to move again. "But just think about it. For the weekend." He smiled. "We're not going to hurt Connor and his friends. Swear. Wolfram and Hart is as antsy about this whole Quortoth thing as you are. They want the Destroyer to succeed."

"The only way he's going to is with me," Andrew insisted. "And I don't play for that side any more!" He shook his head savagely. "I should ask Connor to rip you both limb from limb."

"But you're not going to," Warren replied darkly. "Because deep down, you know you owe me. And Tucker."

"If it wasn't for us, you'd still be living in the General's basement," Tucker added. "Not a friend in the world."

"It doesn't matter how I got here," Andrew replied. "It only matters that I'm here and I'll do whatever I can to bring you two down." The elevator doors opened and he stepped out, leaving Tucker and Warren inside. "You know, I'm really surprised."

"About what?" Warren asked. "That we'd ask you to join us?"

"No," Andrew snapped. "That you need a heart to survive. I thought you were born without one."

****

Connor and Jamie weaved through confused convention goers heading towards the escalator. "Man, and I thought it was crazy last year when that blond pretty boy was a guest and those girls were going into hysterics."

Connor looked down into the lobby, brow furrowed deeply. "I have no idea what the hell I'm looking for. I didn't see those guys, I don't know how to scent them out..."

"Can't you sense other supernatural creatures?" Jamie asked, looking around. "Hey! Look! Oh my God, if I were not with a hot Slayer, I'd so be getting rejected by that Faye Valentine right now." He pointed down to a purple-haired girl in yellow shorts and mid-drift baring top.

"I don't even know if we're looking for a supernatural creature," Connor sighed. "Supernatural creatures don't usually use laser guns. And don't stare at girls." He glanced at where Jamie was looking. "Where was she?"

Jamie grinned at Connor. "Ha. Knew you couldn't resist."

Connor shrug. "What can I say? Have a thing for girls with purple hair..." He frowned slightly as he looked through the crowd. "Hey! It's Gord! Gord! " He called out, waving his hands. "Gord!"

Gord stopped and looked over at them briefly. He turned back and continued on his way.

"That's weird." Connor frowned deeply. "Why didn't he stop?" He stepped off the escalator. His brow furrowed deeper. "Did you know Gord was even going to be here?"

"Um..." Jamie played idly with one of the scarves at his waist. "Well, yeah... I kind of did. He mentioned it during the last game."

"I see him in class like every day," Connor shook his head. "Why wouldn't he tell me? He knows I come every year."

Jamie took a deep breath. "Okay, man... I've got to tell you something." He grabbed Connor's shoulders, bracing him. "Gordknowsosmethingweirdisgoingonwithyouandheskindofafraidofyounow."

Connor blinked. "Okay... I have superhearing, but even I missed that. You mind going a bit slowly."

Jamie looked down. "Gord knows there something going on with you. Something weird. Something... Freaky."

Connor nodded. "As in, he's figured out I kill demons for a living."

Jamie shrugged. "Well, it doesn't actually go that far." He frowned slightly. "I think he thinks you're in the mob or something."

Connor seemed to consider this for a long time. "He's been really weird since we talked about me changing my name back to Angel."

"Maybe he does think you're in the mob," Jamie wondered aloud. "You know, you were like in... Witness Protection, using the name Riley. And now that you're back in the family and the business of killing, you're using your real name."

Connor groaned. "I am kind of freaked out myself to how close that is to the actual truth."

Jamie gave Connor a punch in the shoulder. "Try not to let this get you down. Gord is just... Acting weird."

Connor shrugged and began to walk along, pushing his way through the crowd. "So he told you all of this? What made him get all confessional?"

"He was warning me," Jamie admitted truthfully. "I mean, he knows I got shot and also spent like a month in a wheelchair. He sees I keep on getting hurt and..."

Connor turned and faced Jamie. "Do you want out? Are you worried about yourself?"

"Connor, you're my bro," Jamie sighed. "If I wanted out of this mess, I could leave. I've got a whole trust fund full of blood money I could use to disappear off the planet." He shook his head. "But I'm not going anywhere."

"If you wanted to leave, I wouldn't blame you," Connor muttered.

Jamie nodded. "I know. And that's why you're my best friend." He smiled. "And I'm yours because I don't."

****

"So those are them," Warren and Tucker stood on the hotel veranda. Salome, Oni, Mandy and Crawford were a few feet below them on the ground, examining the convention goers.

"Yeah." Tucker snorted. "Morons. Think we're just going to walk up to them. They've got no clue where to look..." He appeared worried for a moment. "You don't think Andrew's going to squeal on us, do you?"

Warren shook his head. "Not a chance. Kid's too stupid and too scared of us. Besides, if he told them it was us, he'd have to tell them about the deal we offered. And they don't trust him that much."

"You've never dealt with these guys before," Tucker pointed out.

"It's a bunch of girls!" Warren cried, his voice rising in pitch. "Demons and Slayers, but girls all the same. No chance in taking us out. As for Connor, the kid's pathetic, always has been. If he relies on Andrew, he's got no chance against us." He jerked his chin towards Salome, who was still dressed in her Romana costume. "So that cheerleader outfit you got her in... Skimpier than what she's got on?"

Tucker nodded. "Yeah."

"Nice," Warren tapped hands with Tucker. He then shrugged. "Always liked French Maid myself."

"Firm wants Connor to stay in play, but they don't mind us taking her out. Think they might prefer it." Tucker paused. "They think something's going on. Something big that they can't control." He laughed nervously. "Do you think I can..."

"You have some weird-ass fetishes, man," Warren replied bluntly. "You and demon chicks. It's a sickness, you know that?" He waved his hand. "Go ahead, do whatever you want." He smirked, staring at Mandy. "Might have a round or two with that Slayer myself. She looks like she could use a real man."

"But you're not a real man," Tucker pointed out. "You're a robot."

Warren slapped Tucker hard in the back of the head. "It's a figure of speech, you moron!"

"Ow!" Tucker cradled the back of his head. "You didn't have to hit me! Just because you're all robo-villian now doesn't mean you can beat the crap out of me."

"That's exactly what it means," Warren replied harshly. He grabbed Tucker by the collar, pulling him close. "Listen, you stay away from those girls until I tell you. We need to get Andrew before that. There's no way he's going to join the firm if he thinks we're going to hurt his little pals. So stay frosty!"

  Tucker nodded. "All right."

Warren glared at Tucker. "You got what you needed?"

Tucker pulled out a small pipe. "You really think we'll need to do this?"

"Yeah." Warren nodded. "Not yet, but be ready. We need to keep the gang distracted, but not until we finish with the next step."

****

"Do you believe Crawford will be safe aided by Mandy?" Oni asked worriedly as they walked through one side of the crowd gathered in front of the hotel, while Mandy and Crawford took the other.

"Of course he will," Salome assured her. "May not like the girl, but Slayer Barbie knows what she's doing." She looked over her shoulder at Oni, grinning. "So you and Crawford..."

Oni turned a furious red. "I have no idea what you are alluding to."

"I'm alluding to... How was it?" Salome grinned broadly. "Come on, you can't hide it. You've been blushy and ashamed all afternoon." She turned. "So you did it. And it was good."

"Salome!" Oni blushed even deeper.

"Oh... What?" Salome put her hands on her hips. "Sex is fun. Just admit to it. It doesn't have to be a big thing."

"It is a colossal occasion," Oni insisted. "And now I am very concerned that something horrible will happen to Crawford or myself, as per the usual."

Salome rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on... You can't believe in the curse. It's total bull!"

"But something bad has occurred each time one of us has consummated the relationship with our significant other." Oni's cheeks turned even redder. "In truth, that was the reason Wesley and I never... I mean, because it was right before we went into battle. I was too nervous."

"Holy Moses," Salome whispered.

"I know, it is dreadfully idiotic of me to put stock in the rumours..." Oni wrung her hands.

"Not that," Salome replied. She then bit her lip. "Well... That is full of 'tard, but that's not what..." She pointed up to the verdana. "Do you see him?"

Oni looked up as the two men were turning to go back inside. "That was..."

"Tucker Wells," Salome growled. She smirked ferally. "I think we just got a suspect."

****

Matty had just closed the door to his hotel room when the elevator door's opened and Andrew stepped out. "Andrew!" Matty beamed. "You're back! I didn't think you would be..." He took a step closer to Andrew. "So did you find anything at the crime scene?"

Andrew shook his head. "I... I didn't exactly get there." He averted his gaze. "I... I've just been thinking."

"Thinking?" Matty frowned slightly. "What's going on?"

Andrew darted out his hand, taking a hold of Matty's. "We need to talk. Seriously."

Matty took a deep breath, looking down at their joined hands. He nodded wordlessly and allowed Andrew to lead him to his hotel room. Andrew opened the door and led Matty in. He gestured to the bed. "Sit down."

Matty sat down on the edge of the bed. "What's going on, Andrew? I thought we were supposed to be looking for the guys who did this." He looked around. "Not that I mind you dragging me into a hotel room, but... What's up?"

Andrew was pacing, hands clasped behind his back. "Well, I've been thinking about this since we talked about Salome, how she changed. You said... You said you weren't that big on hanging with baddies."

Matty nodded. "Yeah. I'm still not." He shook his head. "So? What's your point?" He let out a small laugh. "I know you weren't responsible for that robbery. So what is it?"

"I wasn't responsible for that robbery," Andrew sighed and stopped pacing, turning to face Matty. "But I've been responsible for other robberies." He paused. "Okay, not responsible... But involved." He shook his head furiously. "No, I was responsible. I may not have come up with the idea, but I was responsible." He shook his head. "My friends got me to summon a demon that went on a rampage and robbed a bank."

Matty's eyes widened in horror, but Andrew continued on. "Before that, I summoned flying demon monkeys to attack the school play, which is where the store got the name... After the bank robbery, I raised another demon and put Buffy through a bunch of tests to look for weaknesses."

"Uh-huh..." Matty nodded, utterly stunned.

"I also froze a security guard and stole a big, supernatural diamond... I helped make an invisibility ray which made Buffy invisible and nearly killed her... I summoned a demon and cut out its pituitary gland so my friends could create a mind-controlling device, which one of my friends used on his ex-girlfriend and tried to rape her and ended up killing her, so I helped make Buffy think she killed her... Then I summoned a demon that had this hallunciation-juice in its arm that made Buffy think she was in an insane asylum... And I killed a demon and skinned it so my friend could wear the skin and retrieve these magical orb things that made him super-strong and we terrorized a club and tried to rob an armored car..."

Matty looked stunned as Andrews sat down beside him on the edge of the bed. Andrew smiled bashfully. "During the armored car robbery, I crashed my jetpack, went to jail and was nearly massacred by an dark magic fueled uberwitch who skinned my best friend for killing her lover... Which I had nothing to do with!" Andrew added quickly. "I ended up fleeing to Mexico and got influenced by the first, all-encompassing evil into killing my other best friend and using his blood in a dark ritual to bring hell on Earth."

Andrew finally stopped and stared at Matty. Matty stared right back at him, his mouth slightly agape in shock.

"But I'm good now!" Andrew assured him. "Really, seriously. I've been good for like... Three years now. I'm reformed."

Matty rubbed his forehead. He then ran a hand through his hair. "That's a lot of information." He frowned. "Is that... Everything?"

"Pretty much," Andrew nodded. "Connor and everyone knows about it and they've forgiven me. Except Mandy's mad that I messed up a production of Romeo and Juliet. But I only did that because Juliet wouldn't go to the Prom with me, which was actually all right, because my older brother decided to release Hellhounds at the Prom to try and kill everyone who was going." He paused and studied Matty's horrified face. "I also didn't have anything to do with that!"

Matty stood up.

"What is it?" Andrew asked, frowning deeply.

"I just thought I should stand up," Matty sighed. He sat back down. "Or maybe I should sit..." He rubbed his forehead again. "So you were... Evil."

Andrew nodded. "Yeah. At least, I thought I was. We weren't that good at it."

"You killed people though," Matty pointed out.

"I killed a person," Andrew corrected him.

"How is that better?" Matty cried, standing up once again.

"It's only one!" Andrew jumped up now. "I just needed to explain. You said you didn't want to be around bad people, so I had to be honest." He looked down. "I swear it was something that happened a long time ago. And I've changed. I don't do stuff like that anymore. I fight people like that now."

"Are you going to be arrested like Connor was?" Matty asked quietly.

Andrew shook his head. "All of the records of the crimes I committed are deep in the sinkhole that used to be Sunnydale."

"Huh." Matty nodded. "I... Don't know what to think of all of this."

Andrew looked down. "I know I should have told you earlier..."

"Yeah, you should of," Matty nodded and strode to the door.

"Matty!" Andrew called after him. Matty stopped, hand on the doorknob. He looked back to Andrew. Andrew bit her lower lip. "I like you."

"I need to think about this," Matty admitted quietly. "Can you just... Give me some time?"

Andrew sighed and let Matty leave quietly. He closed his eyes tightly and fell back on the bed.

****

Matty strode into the hallway. He stopped, leaning against the wall next to the door. He sighed deeply.

ACT THREE